Calling special session, Perry wants quick action

Perry calls special sessionGovernor expecting quick action on state's work

PEGGY FIKAC, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

Published
5:30 am CDT, Thursday, June 25, 2009

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry is summoning lawmakers back to the Texas Capitol on Wednesday for a special session to make sure key state agencies keep operating, take up highway bonds and consider public-private transportation partnerships.

All were left unaddressed when the Legislature adjourned June 1. Perry told reporters he expects lawmakers to finish their work in “72 to 96 hours. I think that’s three to four days, right? My Aggie math — y’all kind of check me on that.”

Perry said he won’t place the contentious issue of voter identification before lawmakers, even though the call for stricter voter identification is a priority for GOP leaders and lawmakers.

A fight over the issue stalled action in the regular session and undoubtedly would tie up the special session, which can last up to 30 days. The governor sets the agenda for special sessions and determines when they start.

“Look, we clearly believe that the issues that we’re going to address are the ones that have to be taken care of,” Perry told reporters after a separate speech. “We’re talking about people’s lives and livelihoods here when you talk about the Department of Insurance, when you’re talking about TxDOT (the Texas Department of Transportation) ... I want those employees to understand that we’re going to get this bill passed and we’re not going to take a chance on ... any legislative mischief from some other piece of legislation.”

Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, a House Democratic leader, said he hopes lawmakers finish in Perry’s predicted time frame. His only caveat was that lawmakers will want to be sure they have time to study the proposal on comprehensive development agreements, which allow private investment in toll roads and other projects. Such projects have raised an outcry in some areas.

“People are going to want assurance that they understand what we’re doing,” Dunnam said.

Perry said the measure he envisions is one that already passed the House in the regular session and will specify for which projects the public-private agreements can be used. “I think any conspiratorial theorists out there will have a little harder time saying this is some expansive use of comprehensive development agreements. It’s not,” Perry said.